Automatic wiper for use in linotype-machines.



N0. 687,69| Patented Nov. 26, l90l.

P. C. LAWLESS. AUTOMATIC WIPEB FOR USE IN LINUTYPE MACHINES.

Application filed May 16, 1901,)

(No Model.) '4 Shooter-Sheet I.

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Patented Nov. 26,190II.

Nu. 687,69l.

P. C. LAWLESS. AUTOMATIC WIPER FOR USE IN LINOTYPE MACHINES.

Application filed May'18, 1901.)

4 $hoets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

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No. 687,69]. Patented Nov. 26, l90l. P. C. LAWLESS. AUTOMATIC WIPER FORUSE IN LINDTYPE MACHINES.

Application filed May 16, 1901.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

' No. 687,69I. Patented Nov. 26, MIL

v P. c. 'LAWLESS.

AUTOMATIC WIPER FOR USE IN LINOTYPE MACHINES.

1 7 Application filed May 16, 1901.) (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

Waxes fm/emlm" UNITED STATES I ATENT FFlCEt" PHILIP CHARLES LAWLESS, OFLONDON, ENGLAND.

AUTOMATIC WIPER FOR USE IN LlNOTYPE-IVIACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 687,691, dated November26, 1901.

Application filed May 16, 1901. Serial No. 60,546. (No model.)

To all zuhopyjt,1nay concern:

Be it knowiithat I, PHILIP CHARLES LAW- LESS, of 188 Fleet street, inthe city of London, England, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Automatic Wipers for Use in Linotype-Machines; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to improvements in automatic wipers foruse in linotype-machines, and has more particular reference to anautomatic wiper for the mouthpiece of the metal-pot of the Mergenthalerlinotype-machine, described in the specification of Letters Patent No.436,532, of September 16, 1890. In that machine the mold in which thelinotype is cast is a slot in and through a block which is made fast toa socalled mold-wheel, the length of the slot being parallel with adiameter of the wheel and its Width parallel with the wheels axis. Oneside of the mold-block presents itself to the rear of the mold-wheel,and it is up to that side that the metal-pot advances, making ametal-tight fit therewith and maintaining it, if not prevented, duringthe injection of metal into the mold, the metal-pot being withdrawn intoits normal position after the linotype has been cast; but themetal-tight fit above mentioned is constantly being prevented. Thus therow of metal-ports in the mouthpiece frequently extend beyond themoldslot, and then the ports beyond the latter register with blanksurface of the moldblock, when disks or splashes of metal will form overand around the mouths of these ports, or as the metal-pot moves backmetal may trickle down the mouthpiece and set there. Such splashes andtrickles, especially the latter, prevent the mouthpiece fittingmetal-tight up to the mold-block the next time it moves up to thelatter, so that when metal is then injected some of it will splash.

An automatic wiper similar to those for wiping the trimming-knives ofthe machine would probably have been applied to the mouthpiece abovementioned had it not been that Whereas the knife-wipers, act with areciprocating linear motion derived from a source outside their plane ofaction the moldwheel has a rim or flange projecting from its edge in thedirection of the mouthpiece for a distance very nearly equal to thetravel of the latter, thereby practically inclosing the space betweenthe mold-wheel and mouthpiece and shutting it off from outside agencies,and a wiper fast to the rear face of the moldwheel and projectingtherefrom far enough to wipe the mouthpiece each time it passes it isimpracticable, because it would be cut off by the fixed knife that trimsthe foot of the newly-cut linotype.

The present invention consists in a wiper for the mouthpiece of themetal-pot adapted to work Within the circle of the mold-wheel betweenthe mouthpiece and the said wheel and actuated in one direction by themotion through a certain arc of a stud on the said wheel and in theother by the resilience of a spring and which resilience is generated bythe said motion.

The essence of the invention resides in the provision of amechanically-actuated wiper lying between the mold-disk and the mouth ofthe pot and adapted to act on the latter, this wiper having a motionindependent of the mold-disk, so that it will not conflict in operationwith other parts.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are to be taken as part ofthis specification and read therewith, Figure 1 is a rear elevationshowing the mold-wheel holding its stud in contact with the wiper-armand just about to start upon its first arcual motion; Fig. 2, a verticalsection in the plane of the mold-wheel axis, including parts of thefirst elevator, vise-frame, metal-pot, and moldwheel slide and showingthe wiper half-way along the metal-pot mouthpiece; Fig. 3, a

front elevation showing the wiper nearly at the end of its wiping motionalong the metalpot mouthpiece, the dot-and-dash lines indicating therelative position of the mold-wheel; Fig. 4, a rear elevation, and Fig.5a detail plan, together illustrating two modifications.

O is the newly-cast linotype; N, part of the head of the first elevatoror yoke that carries the composed line of matrices and space bars; 0,the mold-wheel; 0, its axle, 0 the bearing of the latter; 0 an armspringing from the mold-wheel slide 0 to carrythe bearing 0 0 themold-block; P, the abutment between which and the mold-block 0 thecomposed line above mentioned is clamped; V, part of the metal-pot, andt the mouthpiece of it.

The motions of the mold-wheel O and metalpot V of the Merganthalerlinot'ype-machine are as follows: The mold-wheel O, holding itsmold-block 0 at the top, moves toward the abutment P to clamp thecomposed line, and the metal-pot V moves forward till its mouthpiece '0fits metal-tight against the rear face of the mold-block, whereuponmetal is injected through the mouthpiece i; into the slot, therebycasting the linotype O. The mold-wheel 0 then moves in the directionindicated by the arrows in Figs. 1, 3, and 4 through an arc of twohundred and seventy degrees and stops for the linotype O to be ejectedfrom the slot. It then moves through a quarter of a circle up into thefirst-mentioned position.

The above-mentioned parts and motions of the metal-pot and themold-wheel are as heretofore.

1 is a spiral spring standing around the bearing 0 and having one endmade fast to the arm 0 at 2, which serves it as a base independent ofthe rotary motion of the wheel 0.

3 is the wiper-arm. It is for the purpose of this invention acontinuation of the other end of the spring 1 and radial to the axis ofthe mold-wheel O.

4 is the wiper, fixed upon the arm 3 by an y suitable means. It is ofleather or other material or materials suitable for the purpose. So longas the wiper 4 is out of action the resilience of the spring 1 keeps itup to a buffer or cushion 5, fast on the slide 0 as shown in Figs. 1 and4.

.6 isa stud fast to and projecting to the rear from the mold-wheel 0 farenough to engage the arm 3. This stud is so positioned upon themold-wheel O and the arm 3 so shaped that it is in practical engagementwith the latter at the moment when the moldwheel 0 starts upon itsthree-quarters-of-acircle motion, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4.

The action of the invention in wiping the mouthpieceo is as follows: Thestud 6 pushes the wiper-arm 3 before it,"thereby making the wiper 4 wipethe face of the mouthpiece o. This action'of the stud and wiper isillustrated in Fig. 3. As soon as the wiper 3 has passed the mouthpiece1), which happens when the stud 6 reaches the position indicated bydotted lines in Fig. 3, it becomes necessary to disengage the arm 3 fromthe stud 6 for the purpose of leaving the wiper free to be returned toits original position by the resilience of the spring 1 and to therebywipe the mouthpiece a second time. The first or single wiping maysuffice for a small mouthpiece; but the double wiping is preferred, asbeing more reliable than a single one. Two disengaging devices areillustrated, one in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 and the other in Figs. 4 and 5.The former device consists of a horn 7, fixed to the arm 0 and holding acam-surface 8 in the path of the wiper-arm 3, the zero of this surfacebeing to the front .of the said path and the maximum to the rear of it,so that as soon as the wiper 4 has passed the mouthpiece v the surface 8pushes the wiper-arm 3 to the rear clear of the stud 6, the rise of thesaid surface and the llength of the stud 6 being proportioned producethat resultat the time stated, wh" eupon the resilience of'the spring 1returns the wiper 4 to it its original position. The device illustratedin Figs. 4 and 5 consists in a combination of eccentricity of the spring1 with an adjustable contact-piece on the wiper-arm 3 for the stud 6 toengage with. Its spring (marked 1 to distinguish it from the spring 1 inFigs. 1 to 3) is eccentric to the bearing 0 with its center below theaxis of that hearing. This center may equally be above the said axis.

9 is the contact-piece above mentioned. It is adjustable lengthwise ofthe wiper-arm 3 by means of a set-screw 10. The respective paths of thestud 6 and the contact-piece 9 being eccentric to each in the waystated, the stud 6 moves up the side of the contact-piece 9 during thewiping action of the wiper 4 and off it at the moment the wiper 4 haspassed the mouthpiece i7, whereupon the resilience of the spring 1returns the wiper 4 to its original position. The radial length of theside of the contact-piece 9 is adjusted to keep the stud 6 in contactwith it for the proper time. The reason why the contact-piece 9 isadjustable lengthwise of the arm 3 is the necessity of compensating forwear between it and the stud 6. Otherwise the contact-piece might be anenlargement of the arm 3 and fast to it.

The cam-surface 8, above described, may also be relied on to disengagethe wiper-arm 3 when the spring is eccentric to the bearing 0 instead ofthe contact-piece 9, in which case its action will be as described abovewith reference to Figs. 1 to 3.

If the spring is concentric with the bearing 0 it may fit practicallyclose to it, in which case the bearing 0 will serve as a support for it.Hence a concentric spring may be of thinner material than an eccentricone, asshown in the figures, because it has not to bear the weight ofthe arm 3, but has only to return the latter and the wiper 4. When thetwo are concentric, it is preferred that a thin ring 11 should beinterposed to prevent friction between the coils of the spring and thebearing 0 to prevent the torsional strain on the arm 3 due to thecontact of the wiper 4 and the mouthpiece U twisting the said arm and tosteady the motion of the latter.

It is a matter of indifference whether the spring and wiper-arm are inone continuous piece or in two separate pieces joined together. Theymust be practically fast to each other in order that the first wipingmotion of the arm may wind up the spring and the resili- IIO ence of thelatter return the arm. Fig. 4

shows the former, and Figs. 1 to 3 the latter, construction. Thejunction between them may be effected by any suitable means. Referringto Figs. 1 to 3, advantage is taken of thepresence of the ring 1.1 tofasten the respective ends of the wiper-arm 3 andthe spring to it, 12being an enlargement of the said end of the arm 3; 13, a tab orprolongation of the enlargement 12, the enlargement 12 having a hole toreceive the outwardlyturned end 14 of the spring and both a groove whichfits over the spring, and 15 15 screws passed through the tab 13 intothe ring 11.

I claim 1. In alinotype-machine and in combination with its metal-potand mold-wheel, a wiper for the mouth of the metal-pot, working withinthe circle of the mold-wheel, a stud on said Wheel to move the wiper inone direction, and a spring to move it in the reverse direction.

2. The combination with the metal-pot and the mold-Wheel of alinotype-machine, of a wiper for the mouthpiece of the metal-pot; an armradial to the axis of the mold-wheel and carrying the said wiper on itsouter end;

a spiral spring surrounding the bearing of the mold-wheel, fast by oneend to a base independent of the rotary motion of the moldwheel andhaving the said arm practically fast to its other end; a stud on themold- Wheel engaging the said arm to make the wiper Wipe the mouthpiece;and means for disengaging the said arm from the stud after themouthpiece has been wiped and leaving it free to be returned to itsoriginal position by the resilience of the spring.

3. The combination with the metal-pot and mold-wheel of alinotype-machine, of a wiper for the mouthpiece of the metal-pot; an armradial to the axis of the mold-wheel and carrying the said wiper on itsouter end; a spiral spring surrounding the bearing of the moldwheel,fast by one end to a baseindependent of the rotary motion of themold-wheel and having the arm practically fast to its other end; a studon the mold-wheel engaging the arm to make the wiper wipe themouthpiece; and a cam-surface for disengaging the arm from the stud assoon as it has been wiped and leaving it free to be returned toitsoriginal position by the resilience of the spring as soon as such wipinghas been effected.

4. The combination with the metal-pot and the mold-wheel of alinotype-machine, of a wiper for the mouthpiece of the metal-pot; an armradial to the axis of the mold-wheel and carrying the said wiper on itsouter end;

a spiral spring surrounding the bearing of the mold-wheel eccentricallyto the axis of it,

fast by one end to a base independent of the rotary motion of themold-wheel and having the said arm practically fast to its other end; acontact-piece adjustable lengthwise of the arm; a stud on the mold-wheelto engage the said contact-piece to make the wiper wipe the mouthpieceand to leave it free to be returned to its original position by theresilience of the spring, as soon as such wiping has been effected.

5. The combination with the metal-pot and the mold-wheel of alinotype-machine, of a wiper for the mouthpiece of the metal-pot; an armradial to the axis of the mold-wheel and carrying the said wiper on itsouter end; a spiral spring surrounding the bearing of the mold-wheeleccentricall y to the axis of it, fast by one end to a base independentof the rotary motion of the mold-wheel and having the said-armpractically fast to its other end; a contactpiece on the arm; a stud onthe moldwheel to engage the said contact -piece to make the wiper wipethe mouthpiece and to leave it free to be returned to its originalposition by the resilience of the spring, as soon as such wiping hasbeen effected. 6. In a linotype-machine the combination of thepot-mouth, the wiper, the spring tending to move the wiper in onedirection, and

a cooperating mold arranged to meet and to separate, in combination witha wiper mounted to travel across the front face of the potmouth, andmechanism to effect the to-andfro motion of the wiper while the pot andthe mold are separated whereby foreign matters adhering to the pot-mouthare removed that it may close tightly against the mold.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twoWitnesses.

PHILIP CHARLES 'LAwLEss.

Witnesses:

OHAs. S. Wooncorn, HORACE GRELLIER.

